Division Global Development Program
Department Policy and Advocacy
Location Nigeria
Foundation Overview
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people-especially those with the fewest resources-have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.
Group Summary
The Global Health and Global Development Programs of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have set strategic priorities focusing on the biggest barriers that prevent people from making the most of their lives. The foundation is teaming up with partners around the world to address the inequities related to health focusing on new tools to prevent and treat deadly diseases and to development focusing on agricultural development, financial services and water, sanitation, and hygiene. There are several countries in Sub-Saharan Africa where the need and opportunity for impact on these key areas is significant; Nigeria is one.
The foundation has an opportunity to build on our current work in Nigeria and stimulate change through programmatic and advocacy efforts. We wish to engage more deeply with key partners and stakeholders including the Nigerian government, donors, grantees, private sector, media, and others by listening and learning on the ground to get the most impact from our investments in health and development. Effective advocacy efforts in Nigeria are critical to understanding and shaping important public policy debates around issues affecting our work, building public support for our major program and policy objectives, and building partnerships and alliances with influential thought-leaders who can advance shared objectives. Engagement with key partners at the local level allows for more effective communication, alignment, and sharing strategic priorities.
The foundation seeks to establish a strategic presence in Nigeria to achieve our mission and maximize our impact, by:
- Advancing strategic goals of foundation priorities developed in Seattle HQ.
- Establishing and strengthening critical relationships with key foundation partners, including governments, funders, media, NGOs, multilateral organizations, the private sector and research institutions/thought partners to facilitate sharing and potential alignment of strategic priorities and to address policy constraints, increase visibility, offer compelling evidence, boost political will and help bring in new resources in support of programmatic goals.
- Providing proximity and regular access to Nigerian health, development and financial decision-makers, key influencers and stakeholders relevant to Global Health and Global Development strategies.
- Gathering country-level information about issues that are important to the foundation, such as local investments, financial regulation, medicine regulatory harmonization, biotechnology, and other key health and development priorities.
- Strengthening our communications impact in key Nigerian media markets
- When appropriate, representing and supporting direct engagement by foundation leadership the relevant approved strategic priorities in discussions with Nigerian stakeholders, partners, government and the public.
Responsibilities
The Senior External Relations Officer in Nigeria will function as a senior-level foundation representative and spokesperson. He/she will also be expected to provide policy/political advice and local information for the foundation's specific priority areas within Nigeria, which are family health, routine immunization, new vaccine introduction, and polio eradication as well as periodic information on other key strategic issues. While the position will be focused on the foundation's highest priority strategies, there may be opportunities for the role (time and focus permitting) to help support the work of other foundation strategies with grants in Nigeria.
The Senior Officer will be expected to become fully knowledgeable and fluent in the strategic priorities across the foundation's priorities, and establish strong partnership with the relevant programs and staff within the various foundation offices. While the position will be focused on the foundation's highest priority strategies, there may be opportunities for the role (time and focus permitting) to help support the work of other foundation strategies with grants in Nigeria.
The Senior Officer in Nigeria will be based in Abuja, and will work closely with appropriate governmental, NGO and civil society, private sector, traditional authorities and grantee groups in support of shared strategic objectives. The role will include regular travel to other parts of the country, especially in the North.
The Senior Officer will report to the Deputy Director of External Relations in the Global Development Policy and Advocacy group, who is based in London, UK, and will work closely with the Directors of Family Health and Vaccine Delivery in Seattle to help support Program-driven goals. This position will function as an integral part of the Africa team led by the Deputy Director and be accountable to the Deputy Director for the achievement of foundation objectives.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as a senior-level foundation representative and spokesperson in Nigeria
- Build and maintain close relationships with key stakeholders in government, grantees, funders, NGOs, private sector, media, and other influentials relative to family health, routine immunization, new vaccine introduction, and polio eradication. Identify engagement priorities for 2011-2012 with relevant teams and execute upon that work.
- Establish close working relationship with key foundation staff on relevant strategies to ensure ongoing strategic alignment and prioritization of efforts.
- Provide strategic advice and support for foundation leadership to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in Nigeria. Lead and coordinate co-chairs, CEO and President's engagement on the continent including their visits and interactions with relevant partners and stakeholders in Nigeria and the region.
- Serve as an in-country lead for leadership trips within Nigeria; participate in planning and preparation for such trips with the appropriate groups.
- Provide research and requested briefings for staff and leadership and staff on relevant events and activities in Nigeria.
- Regional work: Provide limited support to foundation activities in other countries in the sub-region as well as engage more deeply with regional and Pan-African organizations headquartered in Nigeria, including ECOWAS.
- Operational: Oversee the operating budget and forecasts, expenditures for the foundation's Nigeria presence.
Qualifications
• 10 years of experience with responsibility over multidisciplinary functions in Africa-focused organizations and institutions contributing to the development, design, and management of strategies and initiatives that produce significantly improved global health and/or global development outcomes. An advanced degree preferred.
- Deep understanding of Nigerian social and political landscape and knowledge of local language and culture preferred.
- Exceptional leadership, interpersonal and analytical skills; excellent written and oral communication skills in positions requiring communication with a broad and diverse audience.
- Strong judgment with a demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks with competing priorities. Ability to manage confidential information and situations with efficiency, flexibility, diplomacy, while cultivating trust within the team.
- Experience growing and managing teams in dynamic organizations with complex reporting structures. Experience successfully managing a remote office of a larger organization is a plus.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively at the highest levels of government. Experience working with media and communications agencies desired.
- Ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, enthusiasm, and diplomacy both individually and as part of a complex team effort.
- Commitment to the foundation's core values, mission, and programs.
- Willingness to travel within Nigeria and the region.
- Sense of humor.
As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will be contingent upon successful completion of a comprehensive background check.
Requisition Number 2820BR
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